Construction of the $1.2 billion Perth Children’s Hospital in Nedlands has passed a significant milestone, with the final concrete for the building poured.
The hospital, which is being built by John Holland, is around 65 per cent complete, while Health Minister Kim Hames said the project was on time and on budget.
More than 138,000 cubic metres of concrete have been poured at the construction site, while the total time worked on site has surpassed 3.9 million hours.
The project remains on time despite industrial action at the site, which culminated in allegations that the Construction, Mining, Forestry and Energy Union organised a blockade to stop a critical concrete pour in July last year.
The Fair Work Building Commission alleged 600 workers gathered at the project’s main site entrance on the day the pour was scheduled.
Court action is ongoing, while Dr Hames today said the 298-bed hospital remained on track to open in late 2015.
“It’s exciting to see Perth Children’s Hospital taking shape with the structure now complete and the building reaching its full height,” Dr Hames said in a statement.
“We’ll now see the completion of the external façade and the start of the internal fitout, which is what will turn this building into one of the best paediatric hospitals in the world, combining leading-edge technology and medical equipment with family-friendly design.”
A ceremonial tree, which will be planted at the neighbouring Kings Park Synergy playground area, was lowered to the spot where the final concrete was poured to commemorate the milestone.
The hospital is part of $7 billion in major health projects invested by the state government, including the Joondalup Health Campus, Midland Public Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital.
“PCH is part of the bigger picture for health and the state government’s plan to deliver accessible, high-quality care for children and adolescents in the suburbs closer to where patients live,” Dr Hames said.
“It will be the central hub for tertiary paediatric care, with Fiona Stanley Hospital the southern mini-hub and Joondalup Health Campus the northern mini-hub.
“The state government’s investment in paediatric beds will increase the number of paediatric beds from 339 to 406 by 2016, and more than 90 per cent of these beds will be new beds in new hospitals.”
